Beverage dispensing device



C. H. HEITMAN March 21, 1939.

BEVERAGE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 8, 1937 IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 21, 1939.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,151,104 I BEVERAGE DISPENSING DEVICECharles H. Heitman, Jefl'ersonville, N. Y.

Application October 8, 1937, Serial No. 167,998

6 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for dispensing liquids such asbeverages.

More specifically my invention relates to a beverage dispensing unitwherein thebeverage or beverages may be placed in a plurality ofcontainers, the containers placed in the dispensing sion within theunitary structure of a liquid dispenser remote from the cooling zone andfrom which liquid at room temperature may be directly withdrawn.

Another object is to provide a device-in which a refrigeratingcompartment is provided for the reception and cooling of articles otherthan the liquid being dispensed.

Another object is compactness of structure, simplicity and cheapness ofstructure, and the provisions of a device which will not be likely toget out of order.

With these and other objects in view I shall proceed to a more detaileddescription of my invention in connection with the accompanying.drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the unitary cabinet embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken .on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view partially in a vertical section through thecabinet and one of its containers, and

Fig. 4 is an end view of one of the containers which I employ.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the unitary cabinet embodying oneexemplification of my invention is designated by the reference characterI. This cabinet may be said to have three comextend about the outer wallof the compartment 4, for a reason which will hereinafter appear.

The space provided between, the two walls 5 and I is filled with anysuitable insulating material 8, such for instance as rock wool.

The compartments 2 and 4 have therein rectangular boxlike receptacles,2' and 4', respectively, open at the top 'and within which are.operatively disposed the rectangular containers or cans 9 and II! whichare identical in every respect so as to be interchangeable, a front endelevation of which is shown in Fig. 4. These containers or cans areprovided with taps or faucets ll located in the front end thereof at thebottom at a point to the left of the center, 'as shown in the drawing.At the top thereof the cans are provided with handles l2 for facility inlowering and raising them to and from operative position within theircompartments, and ports l2 for filling the cans are shown in the topthereof.

In the upper front face of the cabinet two slots l3 are provided throughwhich when cans 9 and I0 are in operative position the taps or faucetsproject. Each of these slots is provided with a filler strip l4, one ofwhich is shown in dotted lines partially retracted from its slot in Fi1.

In practice the strips H are withdrawn entirely from -the slots l3,whereupon the cans 9 and. ID, with their faucets projecting through theslots, are lowered into operative position in their respectivecompartments-2' and 4', after which the filler strips II are slid intoposition. The lower ends of these strips are contoured so as to snuglyfit the upper part of the base of the faucets.

These filler strips are shown as hollow metallic shells filled with asuitable insulating material. They should have a snug but easily slidingfit in the slots l3 so that air will not be admitted, at

'a considerable space between the pipe l5 and the top of the cabinet andbetween thecompartments 2 and 4. This space is available as arefrigerator for the reception of any article which it may be desired tokeep cool. If desired this space may also be utilized as anice chamberby many who prefer to use ice rather than mechanical refrigeration, orwhen the cooler is used where power for compartment 3, is an insulatedwall which 1 prevents heat-exchange between the two com- 'drip-pan 2|.

partments and accordingly the liquid in container II! will remain atroom temperature. This is desirable for the reason-that many peopleprefer water, for instance, at a temperature higher than is commonlydispensed by-water coolers generally. The arrangement just describedenables one to draw directly from the two faucets a mixture of chilledand unchilled liquid :at'the temperature desired. Obviously thecontainer l0, if desired, may be utilized for the dispensing of anyliquid which preferably would not be chilled.

Beneath the two faucets is shown the usual It will be seen from theforegoing disclosure that in the dispensing of spring orrfiltered orotherwise purified water, the cans may be filled at a centraldistributing depot and distributed to the consumer in closed conditionin the conventional manner, and that the cans may be mount- .ed in theirreceptacles in the cabinet and water drawn directly therefrom withoutits coming in contact with any extraneous mechanism such as anintermediate cooling coil or an intermediate reservoir.

My invention therefore provides forthe jdispensing of beverages to theconsumer, either chilled or unchilled in absolutely sanitary condition.

While I have described my invention more particularly in connection withthe dispensing of water, it is obvious that it is adapted for thedispensing of anykind of liquid, and that it is admirably adapted forthe dispensation of milk which is a commodity so easily susceptible todangerous contamination.

In the foregoing description I'have disclosed an exempliflcation of myinvention which employs but two dispensing units, but obviously abattery of such units for dispensing a variety of liquidsor beveragesmay be included within a cooled by a single refrigerating unit.

1. A liquid dispensing apparatus of the class described, comprising anenclosure having several compartments, at least one of which is exposedto room temperature and is designed for the dispensation of liquiddirectly therefrom, and the others of which compartments are insulatedagainst heat-exchange from the surrounding atmosphere and from saidexposed compartment or compartments, and a refrigerating means inheatexchanging relation with one or more of said other compartments.

2. A' liquid dispensing apparatus of the class.

described, comprising anenclosure several' compartments, at least one ofwhich is expoeed'to room temperature, and the others of whichcompartments are insulated against heatfrom the atmosphere and singleunitary structure, all of which may be from said exposed compartment orcompart-.

ments, and a refrigerating means in heat-exchanging relation with one ormore of said other compartments, and liquid-containersin said exposedand insulated compartments, said liquid containers being respectivelyprovided with individual dispensing means.

3. A liquid dispensing apparatus of the class described, comprising anenclosure having several compartments, at least one of which is exposedto room temperature, and the others of which compartments are insulatedagainst heat-exchange from the surrounding atmosphere and from saidexposed compartment for compartments, a refrigerating means inmeat-exchanging relation with one or more of said other compartments,and liquid-containers in said exposed and insulated compartments, saidliquid-containers being re.-

spectively provided with individual dispensing means comprising integralfaucets, said enclosure having in.a wall thereof slots through whichsaid faucets project, and means for closing said'slots.

4. A liquid dispensing apparatus of the class described, comprising anenclosure having several compartments, at least one of which is exposedto room temperature, and the others of which-compartments are insulatedagainst heatexchange from the surrounding atmosphereand from saidexposed compartment or compartments,

and a refrigerating means in heat-exchanging relation with one or moreof said other compart ments, and liquid-containers insaid exposed andinsulated compartments, said liquid-containers being respectivelyprovided with individual dispen'sing means, one of said compartmentscom- 1 prising a refrigeration chamber for the reception of articlesother than those being directiydispensed.

5. A liquid dispensing apparatus of the class described, comprising anenclosure having several compartments, at least one of which is exposedto room temperature, and the others of which compartments are insulatedagainst heatexchange from the surrounding atmosphere and from saidexposed compartment or compartments, and a refrigerating means inheat-exchanging relation with one or more of said other compartments,and liquid containers in said exposed and insulated compartments, saidliquid-containers being respectively provided with individual dispensingmeans, one of said compartments comprising a refrigeration chamber forthe reception of articles other than those being directly dispensed, anda heat-insulated cover common all compartments.

6. A device, of the class described comprising an enclosure having slotsin one wall thereof, receptacles in said enclosure, liquid-containers insaidm ptacles, means for withdrawing liquid directly from saidcontainers comprising faucetswhich project through said slots, means forsealing said slots, at least one of said containers being exposed toroom temperature, and others of said containers being insulated againstheat-exchange from the surrounding atmosphere and from said exposedcontainer, refrigerating means in heat-'- exghanging relation with saidinsulated containers, an insulated covcr'for said enclosure, meanswhereby the coolinfiinedium will circulate about said insulatedcontainers, and a'refrigeration chamber in said enclosure for articlesother. those being'dispensed from said containers.

' enemies n. nnmnm.

